Photo Credit: Western Australian Cricket Association
WA Cricket is mourning the loss of former Western Australian player Peter Kelly, who recently passed away aged 81.
Kelly, a diminutive opening batter, played 20 Sheffield Shield games for WA between 1964-65 and 1966-67, scoring 1,329 runs at 37.97 including two centuries and seven half-centuries.
Born in Mosman, Sydney, Kelly moved to WA and signed with North Perth Cricket Club, where his performances earned him a First Class debut for WA versus Victoria in November 1964 at the WACA Ground.
The following season, Kelly became the first WA player to score a century in each innings against the MCC, tallying 119 and 108 not-out. The second of those two knocks came despite being struck on the head with a short ball, which forced him to retire hurt before resuming his innings later in the match.
That November, Kelly – the father of former WA player Rob Kelly – compiled his highest score of 132, defying New South Wales during a Sheffield Shield contest at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
All told, Kelly’s First Class career yielded 1,611 runs at 40.27 with four centuries and seven half-centuries.
WA Cricket sends its deepest condolences to his friends and family.
